Old Gold Part 37

"I suppose that must mean that there are some species of apes on this continent, but that no specimens have been captured," said Brace.

"I'm going to make a note of what we've seen to-day," said Briscoe, "for that chap was as big as an orang-outang, and quite as ugly."

"Yes," said Brace. "It looks as if we had made a discovery. I don't see why there shouldn't be big ones in these vast forests."

"Nor I," said Briscoe thoughtfully. "There's plenty of room, and people are too ready to say that nothing more remains to be discovered. Why, only the other day they wouldn't believe in the existence of the gorilla."

"Look here," said Brace; "don't you think we ought to go back and endeavour to catch one of those young ones?"

"Perhaps," said the American drily; "but it will mean a fight, and we should have to kill the old one first."

"Do you think he would make a fight of it?" asked Brace.

"I am certain of it," said Briscoe. "Suppose we put it off for a day or two and think about it. There is plenty of time, and we are certain to get another chance."

"Go on, then," said Brace. "Let's prospect up to the falls, cross over, and try on the other side for the ducks and fish we have got to take back for the cook."

Lynton chuckled and sent the boat gliding swiftly along for the next few minutes, opening out again and again lovely vistas of river, forest, and verdant sh.o.r.e, all of which invited landing and promised endless collecting excursions. But the present was looked upon as a tour of inspection, and all eyes scanned the sh.o.r.e and every creek that was pa.s.sed in search of Indians, a lively recollection of the first boat expedition begetting plenty of caution.

And all the while they sailed on and on towards the grand falls, which rapidly grew in size as they were approached, the water thundering down and the face of the cataract being obscured by the cloud of mist which rose slowly till it was wafted away to fade in the glorious suns.h.i.+ne.

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE.

A GREAT DANGER.

So rapt were all the party in the awe-inspiring scene and in the beauty of the falls--which were broken up by island-like rocks peering out grey and green right across, so that as the adventurers drew nearer it was to gaze at the beauties of at least a dozen falls instead of one, as they had expected--that they did not notice how the wind was dropping as they advanced, nor yet the change that had taken place in the river current.

It was Brace who first marked the alteration whilst he was noticing the numbers of fish leaping and darting away in front of the boat as she glided on.

"We ought almost to stop and fish here," observed Briscoe. "We might have better luck with a smaller bait."

"Perhaps we had better try," said Brace; "but I say, Mr Lynton, look here: what do you make of this?"

"Make of what?" said the mate.

"We are not sailing nearly so fast as we were a short time ago."

"Oh, I don't know: we're making much about the same way."

"But the boat does not rush through the water as she did."

"That's right," said Briscoe. "A bit ago she nearly dipped gunwale under several times."

"I noticed that," said Brace, "and that's the reason I called attention to the smooth way we are now progressing. There's just the same amount of wind blowing."

"Yes; I say, Lynton, this isn't right," said Briscoe, in a sharp tone of voice.

"What isn't right?" said the mate testily. "We're making splendid way.

The boat's sailing along beautifully."

"Yes, too beautifully," said Briscoe. "Can't you see what Mr Brace here means?"

"No; I can't see anything wrong," answered Lynton, in a grumbling tone.

"Look then," cried Brace, excitedly now; "you had better put her about at once and make for the other side."

"What for?"

"Can't you see?" cried Brace. "We were sailing against the stream a bit ago; but we're sailing with it now."

"Nonsense; that can't be," said the mate contemptuously.

"But we are," cried Brace warmly. "Look and see."

"Yes, that's right enough, sir," cried Dan sharply. "The current's setting dead for the falls, and we're being sucked sharply towards the broken water underneath them."

"Ay, true for you, mate," cried one of the sailors; "and if we get there we shall be swamped before we know where we are."

Lynton started up in the boat and stood in a stooping position holding on by the gunwale with his unoccupied hand, as he peered over the side to look at the direction of the current and then gazed up the river at the falls.

The others saw him change countenance, but he did not say a word. He gave ample proof, though, that he fully realised the danger they were incurring, for he bore hard down upon the tiller till the boat glided round, the sail filled on the other side, and they began to sail slowly in a direction parallel with the falls.

"She don't make much way, sir," said Dan, in a grumbling tone hardly above a whisper, the words being meant for Brace's ear, but the mate evidently heard what was said.

"I don't quite understand this," said he. "I never noticed any change, but the current's setting now right for the falls."

"Don't you see why that is?" Briscoe asked the question sharply.

"No. Do you?"

"Yes. I'm a bit used to cataracts. There's thousands of tons falling yonder and going down ever so deep. That makes the surface water set towards the falls, and while there's a deep current rus.h.i.+ng down the river there's a surface current now setting upward, and it'll take us right up to the falling water as sure as we sit here if something isn't done, and that quickly."

"I don't quite see that," said Lynton obstinately, as if he did not like being taught by the American.

"Never mind about understanding it," said Briscoe sharply. "We'll work it out afterwards. You must act now."

"I am acting," said Lynton. "We're sailing right away."

"But the current's taking us up, Lynton," said Brace quickly.

"Well, I can't set more sail, nor make any more wind, can I? We seem to be getting more into shelter here."

"But you can order the men to get out the oars," cried Brace.

"Or else drop the grapnel and try to come to an anchor," said Briscoe.

"Ah, yes," cried Lynton; "we'd better do that. Perhaps the wind will rise a bit more soon. Over with that grapnel, my lads," he shouted to the men forward.